Leatherwood says PAL job is ‘worth it'

Tuscaloosa officer, Olympic medalist says she enjoys helping kids

Tuscaloosa Police Department Officer Lillie Leatherwood helps Jaliyah Caddell, 10, left, Lavonis Green, 7, and Dontavius White, 12, right, with their homework at the Tuscaloosa Police Department Police Athletic League gym at McKenzie Court on Wednesday. Leatherwood is the new director of the Police Athletic League, where she's been an assistant for 20 years.

Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

Tuscaloosa Police Officer Lillie Leatherwood says that every day on the job is rewarding.

The director of the police department's Police Athletic League said it's even more rewarding when she visits with young adults who participated in the after-school program as kids.

“The older kids come back and visit from time to time. It's great to see what they're doing now,” she said. “A lot of them are finishing school, some have gone to college. It's great hearing positive stories like that. That's why this is worth it.”

Leatherwood has worked with the after-school enrichment program since 1995. She was named the director in October when longtime director Capt. Greg Kosloff retired.

“The PAL board and I felt Lillie was the ideal person to assume the position of director of the PAL program due to her many years of involvement with PAL, as well as her love, dedication and commitment to the children of the PAL program,” Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson said.

It's a job that seems tailor-made for the 1984 Olympic gold medalist, who majored in social work at the University of Alabama before pursuing her dream of being police officer.

“This is perfect. I'm able to be an officer and do what I love — working with children and trying to make a difference,” she said. “After competing in the Olympics, I want to make a difference in the community, and I feel like this program is doing that.”

Leatherwood, 48, will mark her 20th anniversary with the police department in October. The Ralph native was a high school track star at Tuscaloosa County High School and UA after that. In 1984, she was a member of the U.S. Olympic team's 1,600-meter relay, where four members each ran 400 meters. The team won the gold at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, setting Olympic and American records in the process.

PAL is a nationwide juvenile crime prevention and mentoring program that pairs officers and children, ages 6-18, in an environment of structured athletic, cultural and educational activities. TPD's program has been robust since its creation in 1988 and was one of the programs that helped Tuscaloosa and Northport earn the National Civic League's All America City designation in 2002.

PAL activities are held in the gym at McKenzie Court in west Tuscaloosa. Between 50 and 70 kids show up after school dismisses and start their homework.

“Even if they don't have homework, we'll give them worksheets that we keep here or have them read,” Leatherwood said. “The first thing that we emphasize is education.”

Once the school work is out of the way, the kids will play basketball, kickball, softball or participate in another activity.

“They know and love basketball, but we also take them skating, to participate in the First Tee golf program and tennis,” Leatherwood said. “We try to expose them to a variety of sports. They love playing tennis.”

The city had planned to open a PAL gym in Alberta, but it was put on hold when the area was devastated by the April 27, 2011, tornado. Leatherwood said that she hopes that project will happen eventually. For now, she and assistant director Officer Tony Lucious will continue the popular program at McKenzie Court.

“I'm glad that they trusted me do to do this,” Leatherwood said. “I'm getting a chance to do what I love.”

<p>Tuscaloosa Police Officer Lillie Leatherwood says that every day on the job is rewarding. </p><p>The director of the police department's Police Athletic League said it's even more rewarding when she visits with young adults who participated in the after-school program as kids.</p><p>“The older kids come back and visit from time to time. It's great to see what they're doing now,” she said. “A lot of them are finishing school, some have gone to college. It's great hearing positive stories like that. That's why this is worth it.” </p><p>Leatherwood has worked with the after-school enrichment program since 1995. She was named the director in October when longtime director Capt. Greg Kosloff retired. </p><p>“The PAL board and I felt Lillie was the ideal person to assume the position of director of the PAL program due to her many years of involvement with PAL, as well as her love, dedication and commitment to the children of the PAL program,” Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson said.</p><p>It's a job that seems tailor-made for the 1984 Olympic gold medalist, who majored in social work at the University of Alabama before pursuing her dream of being police officer.</p><p>“This is perfect. I'm able to be an officer and do what I love — working with children and trying to make a difference,” she said. “After competing in the Olympics, I want to make a difference in the community, and I feel like this program is doing that.”</p><p>Leatherwood, 48, will mark her 20th anniversary with the police department in October. The Ralph native was a high school track star at Tuscaloosa County High School and UA after that. In 1984, she was a member of the U.S. Olympic team's 1,600-meter relay, where four members each ran 400 meters. The team won the gold at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, setting Olympic and American records in the process.</p><p>PAL is a nationwide juvenile crime prevention and mentoring program that pairs officers and children, ages 6-18, in an environment of structured athletic, cultural and educational activities. TPD's program has been robust since its creation in 1988 and was one of the programs that helped Tuscaloosa and Northport earn the National Civic League's All America City designation in 2002.</p><p>PAL activities are held in the gym at McKenzie Court in west Tuscaloosa. Between 50 and 70 kids show up after school dismisses and start their homework.</p><p>“Even if they don't have homework, we'll give them worksheets that we keep here or have them read,” Leatherwood said. “The first thing that we emphasize is education.”</p><p>Once the school work is out of the way, the kids will play basketball, kickball, softball or participate in another activity.</p><p>“They know and love basketball, but we also take them skating, to participate in the First Tee golf program and tennis,” Leatherwood said. “We try to expose them to a variety of sports. They love playing tennis.”</p><p>The city had planned to open a PAL gym in Alberta, but it was put on hold when the area was devastated by the April 27, 2011, tornado. Leatherwood said that she hopes that project will happen eventually. For now, she and assistant director Officer Tony Lucious will continue the popular program at McKenzie Court. </p><p>“I'm glad that they trusted me do to do this,” Leatherwood said. “I'm getting a chance to do what I love.”</p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>